8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 4, 2025

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(507) 437-5611

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 2.05    Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

On November 4, 2025, Hormel Foods Corporation (the “Company”) announced a corporate restructuring plan designed to reduce administrative expenses, improve efficiencies, and align its workforce to the Company’s future needs, while enabling continued investment in the Company’s growth. The restructuring includes a voluntary early retirement program for certain groups of employees, the closing of certain open roles, involuntary role reductions, and making select changes to benefit programs. As part of the plan, the Company expects to eliminate approximately 250 corporate and sales roles, with most of the related employee departures to occur by December 31, 2025.

In connection with this restructuring, the Company expects to incur restructuring charges in the range of $20 million to $25 million. Substantially all the charges are expected to be related to one-time pension benefits, cash severance payments, stock compensation expenses, and employee benefit costs. Most of the charges are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. Of the estimated aggregate amount of charges, the Company expects that approximately $8 million to $10 million will be in future cash expenditures to be made over the next 12 months.

The estimates of the charges and expenditures that the Company expects to incur, and the timing thereof, are subject to a number of assumptions, and actual amounts may differ materially from estimates. In addition, the Company may incur other charges or cash expenditures due to the expansion of the program or because of events not yet contemplated in connection with the corporate restructuring.

Item 7.01    Regulation FD Disclosure.

A copy of the Company’s press release dated November 4, 2025, regarding the corporate restructuring is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Document

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Media Relations

media@hormel.com

Hormel Foods Announces Corporate Restructuring to Support Strategic Priorities and Long-Term Growth

AUSTIN, Minn., (Nov. 4, 2025) — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced a corporate restructuring designed to thoughtfully align resources with the organization’s strategic priorities, support future growth and strengthen the overall business.

To ensure the company remains efficient and well-positioned for long-term success, Hormel Foods has implemented a voluntary early retirement program for a portion of its non-plant workforce, is closing many open roles and will reduce certain positions across its office-based workforce. These actions are expected to result in the reduction of approximately 250 corporate and sales positions.

“We approached every decision with care and respect for our team members,” said Jeff Ettinger, interim chief executive officer, Hormel Foods. “Our focus is on providing support and resources to those impacted as they transition from the company.”

The restructuring reflects the company’s ongoing focus on balancing cost discipline with reinvestment in areas critical to its future.

“Hormel Foods remains focused on growth — and growth requires continued investment,” said John Ghingo, president, Hormel Foods. “We’re directing resources toward technology, innovation, food safety and quality, and the capabilities — including people capabilities — that will shape our future. We’re confident that our ongoing investments will strengthen our brands, improve efficiency and ensure Hormel Foods stays competitive and responsive to the needs of our consumers and customers.”

In connection with this restructuring, the company expects to incur restructuring charges in the range of $20-$25 million. Substantially, all the charges are expected to be related to one-time pension benefits, cash severance payments, stock compensation expenses, and employee benefit costs. Most of the charges are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.

“Each person who is leaving has contributed to our organization, our culture and our success. We’re grateful for everything they’ve done,” Ettinger said.

About Hormel Foods – Inspired People. Inspired Food.™

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE®, APPLEGATE®,

JUSTIN’S®, WHOLLY®, HORMEL® BLACK LABEL®, COLUMBUS®, JENNIE-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World’s Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current assumptions and expectations. These statements are typically accompanied by the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "project," "seek," "target," "will," "would," or similar words or expressions. The principal forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the Company's corporate restructuring plan and related costs, planned investments, and future financial and operational performance.

All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, its actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause the Company's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks related to the deterioration of economic conditions; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges; the risk of disruption of operations; the risk that the Company may fail to realize anticipated cost savings or operating profit improvements associated with strategic initiatives, including the Transform and Modernize initiative; risk of the Company's inability to protect information technology (IT) systems against, or effectively respond to, cyber-attacks, security breaches or other IT interruptions; food safety risks; fluctuations in commodity prices and availability of raw materials and other inputs; fluctuations in market demand for the Company's products; risks related to the Company's ability to respond to changing consumer preferences; damage to the Company's reputation or brand image; risks of litigation; risks associated with trade policies, export and import controls, and tariffs; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A – Risk Factors of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be accessed at www.hormelfoods.com in the "Investors" section. Though the Company has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, the Company cautions that other factors may in the future prove to be

important in affecting the Company's business or results of operations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.